The U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework was negotiated between the Department of Commerce and the European Commission in 2000, to provide a way for U.S. companies to comply with the European Union’s Directive on Data Protection. This directive prohibits the transfer of personal data to non-EU nations that fail to meet the European “adequacy” standard for privacy protection. This guide provides an outline of the most critical pieces of the Safe Harbor Framework, including a sample Safe Harbor application, a “Helpful Hints Guide” that explains how to complete the application, and answers to frequently asked questions.